The pistachio tree can live for up to 300 years. The trees are planted in orchards and take up to ten years to reach significant yield. The tree can reach a height of 10 m (33 ft). It has deciduous pinnate leaves that measure 10–20 centimeters (4–8 inches) in length. The trees are dioecious, with male and female trees. The fruit is a drupe with an elongated seed inside.
The fruit is an elongated drupe that contains the part edible. Each pistachio tree has about fifty kg of seed on average or about fifty thousand every two years.

The pistachio shell is not poisonous on its own. However, if the pistachio is not placed in an environment with the correct temperature and humidity in less than 24 hours from the time of harvest, it may lead to fungus and ultimately poisoning of pistachios.